Phenom Paul Skenes has recently pitched himself into the Pittsburgh Pirates record book.
Skenes, who was drafted by Pittsburgh 1st overall in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft, made franchise history when, during a September 10th.
2-1 10th inning loss at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles, he made history by joining the Pirates’ exclusive 200 strikeouts for a season club.
In the third inning, he unleashed a sweeper in striking out Orioles Coby Mayo to become only the eighth Pirate to accomplish 200 or more strikeouts in a season.
With this accomplishment, Skenes, who is only 23 years old, joins a prestigious list consisting of 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, Oliver Perez, Mitch Keller, A.J. Burnett, Ed Morris, Bob Veale, and Francisco Liriano in the team’s record books.
“Yeah, it’s a brotherhood,” Skenes said. “Pretty darn good brotherhood. Hopefully, we get a couple more in that club soon.”
On this historic night, he pitched five innings and gave up only two hits while striking out eight, which ran his season total to 203 strikeouts.
Paul Skenes Becomes Eighth Pirates Pitcher to Reach 200 Strikeouts in a Season
Pirates Manager Don Kelly Pulled Skenes After Fifth Inning vs. Orioles
Not surprisingly, Pirates manager Don Kelly was questioned about pulling Skenes from the game after only five innings and 64 pitches.
“Yeah. Like we’ve talked about with all the guys,” Kelly said. “Just trying to make sure that we’re managing the workload, make sure that they’re going all the way through the end of the season healthy and ready to finish a full season and be ready for next year.”
Limiting Skenes’ workload is, in hindsight, obviously a smart move, given that the Pirates aren’t in the pennant race and this valuable pitcher will be counted on heavily for years to come if the Pirates are to successfully rebuild and challenge for a postseason spot.
Skenes a Definite Front-Runner to Win His First NL Cy Young Award
Last season, Skenes posted an 11-3 record with 170 strikeouts and a 1.96 ERA, which placed the Fullerton, California native third in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
This season, as we head into the home stretch, Skenes finds himself among starting pitchers with the lowest ERA (1.92), WHIP (0.92), and strikeouts with 203.
Due to the Pirates being a rebuilding team, the one statistic in which he hasn’t excelled is his win-loss record, which, with approximately three weeks to go, stands at a pedestrian 10-9.
This season, Skenes’ biggest competition to win the NL Cy Young Award was Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who had a 10-5 record with a 2.71 ERA along with 195 strikeouts and a 0.94 WHIP when, on August 23rd, he underwent season-ending surgery.
On Course For a Hall of Fame Career
Before being drafted, Skenes was being compared to another long-ago blue-chip prospect in pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who was drafted in 2009 first overall by the Washington Nationals.
Strasburg was a three-time NL All-Star who had his greatest moment in 2019 when he was voted the World Series MVP after helping the Nationals win the World Series.
Meanwhile, Skenes was called up in May 2024, and less than two months later, with only 11 MLB appearances under his belt, he was at Wrigley.
Field, standing on the pitcher’s mound, starts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Showing no nerves, he went on to pitch a scoreless first inning.
“The coolest part about it is they’re so accepting and welcomed me with open arms in the clubhouse, and they’re super supportive, watching my start,” Skenes said. “It was really cool. Definitely feel like I’m one of them.”
That first season also saw him win the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award, along with being named to the 2024 All-MLB First Team.
Skenes Should Break the Bank Once He Hits Free Agency
Once Skenes becomes a free agent, the Pirates will more than likely not have the necessary funds to keep him.
The good news for Pirates management and fans alike is that Skenes isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2029 season, when more than likely he will be offered and sign a monstrous payday from a contending big market team such as the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers.
Until then, Pirates fans have a front row seat in watching this future Hall of Fame pitcher spin his magic on the mound.
Main Image: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
